Kimberly Harper November 8,2009 Professor Hallman History After 1877 “Atlanta Riots of 1906” Atlanta Georgia was thought to be a prime example of how blacks and whites could live together in harmony: however the 1906 race riot was a mass civil disturbance. By the 1900’s Atlanta was the place of regional economy. The population increased from 89,000 in 1900 to 150,000 by 1910, the black population went from 9,000 in 1880 to 35,000 by 1900. Such added rising tension between white and blacks.
This riot was feasible because it increase job competition, heightened class distinctions, and aided in the development of blacks desire for civil rights. This riot occurred September 22 – 24, 1906 During reconstruction , black men were given the opportunity to establish businesses, create social networks, and build communities. As these blacks acquired wealth, education, and prestige, they began to distance themselves from the black working class. Many whites were uncomfortable with the status of the black elites.
The whites also disapproved of saloons on Atlanta’s Decatur Street. White’s were concerned about such an establishment and began to blame black saloon goers for the growing crime rate. Also, during reconstruction blacks were given the right to vote, and became more involved in political realm. Whites hated blacks or began to instill hatred because of a fear of their places in the upper class being taken. The whites feared a social intermingling of the races. Tensions began to boil during the election in which Hoke Smith and Clark Howell competed for the Democratic nomination.
Both candidate were looking for ways to disenfranchise black voters, to ensure that blacks were kept “ in their place”, that is, in a position inferior to whites. Both Smith, the former publisher of the Atlanta Journal, and Howell, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution, were in the position of being able to influence the public through their newspapers. These newspapers were used to help spread the fear that whites may not be able to maintain their social order. The papers attacked saloons owned by blacks. Attempting to compete, the
Atlanta Georgian, and the Atlanta News carried stores about alleged assaults on white women by black men. This media provoked hatred and anger among white readers. These stories included, editorials, cartoons warning of rising crime, threats of rape of their mothers, wives, and daughters by black males. By late September, the newspapers had reported four separated incidents of alleged assaults by blacks on white women. A mob of violence erupted. September 22, thousands of white men and boys gathered in downtown Atlanta. Mayor, and city leaders attempted to calm the crowds, but failed to do so.
They paraded down Decatur St. , Pryor St. , Central Avenue, and the Central business district, assaulting hundreds of blacks. They attacked black owned businesses and barber shops. The crowd attacked streetcars, and trolley cars beating black men and women. The streetcar services were terminated by midnight. The crowd only dispersed due to heavy rain.. By September 23, Atlanta was under the control of the state militia. While the state militia patrolled the streets, blacks secretly obtained weapons to arm themselves in case the mob returned.
During this time white vigilante groups invaded some black neighborhoods. On Monday, September 24, some African Americans held a meeting in Brownsville. The blacks were heavily armed. The police launched a raid on Brownsville. A shootout occurred and an officer was killed. By late Monday, Tuesday, city officials , clergy, businessmen, and press called for and end to all violence. Estimates range from twenty-five to forty African American deaths, two whites, and one of those being a women who suffered a heart attack after seeing the mob outside her home.
The Atlanta riots were important because of the tough stands against racism, increased black businesses and greater voter participation. Significant African American social changes were also an outcome of the riot. Although an over flowing amount of blood shed, African Americans could be proud of the stand they took. It’s after math saw a retrenchment of Atlanta’s black community in terms of business and residence. business . Other outcomes included an increase in black suffrage in 1908.